Chapter 452
Chapter 452
Third Person’s POV
It was the same question Trista had thrown at him back on the island.
Fred watched Cassian’s instinctive flinch and had his answer. A flicker of pity crossed Fred’s eyes.
༠. p>
Finished
“Cassian, to be blunt, your view of relationships is toxic. You were raised on your father’s ‘interests–above- all‘ ideology. It’s baked into you p>
“Your brain is wired for leverage and profit. If you’d married some socialite for a business merger, this predatory instinct of yours probably would’ve made you a happy man. You would’ve thrived p>
Fred shook his head. “But you chose Trista. She loved you with zero fine print, and you don’t even know what that looks like. You two were on a collision course from day one p>
That was the final blow to Cassian’s defenses.
He lunged to his feet, swaying from the alcohol, his finger trembling as he pointed it at Fred. “Then you tell me! What the hell is love?! ”
Cassian’s eyes were bloodshot, his composure completely shattered. “Fred, there’s no such thing as ‘true love‘ in this world! It’s a fairy tale p>
Fred stayed leaned back on the sofa, watching the meltdown with a calm, detached expression.
Cassian had been groomed since birth in a world of hierarchy and cold utility.
He knew how to move mountains of capital and how to look down on the masses from the top of the pyramid, but he’d never learned how to look a partner in the eye as an equal.
In the game of hearts, he was a bankrupt amateur.
Cassian stumbled, catching himself on the table. He glared at Fred, his eyes a map of red veins. “There are no ‘pure‘ emotions. Every bond you people talk about is just two people getting what they need from each other. It’s a transaction p>
“So your thing with Samantha,” Fred countered coldly, “was that just a transaction too p>
Cassian flinched like he’d been struck. “She saved my life! Was I supposed to just let her rot? Was I not supposed to look out for her p>
“But your ‘looking out‘ for her crossed every line and nuked your connection with Trista!” Fred shot back, showing no mercy.
Cassian felt like his brain was short–circuiting. He jabbed a finger at his own temple, screaming at the top of his lungs, “I know I was blinded when Samantha came back! I know I went overboard–the private beach, the fireworks, the homemade cake… I even posted it on socials p>
He stopped, his voice dropping into a pathetic, ragged whisper. “But she had slit her wrists, Fred! She was a total wreck, begging me! She said her life was ruined because of me, that I owed her a future. She said if I
1:18 pm M MM
Chapter 452
just showed her a little warmth, she could find a reason to live p>
Finished
“That post? I deleted it within sixty seconds. It was only up for a minute! I never dreamed Trista would see it p>
Fred didn’t blink. “You can call that post a momentary lapse in judgment. But how do you explain the blind favoritism after that? The way you constantly shut Trista down while putting Samantha on a pedestal p>
“Fine p>
Cassian was spiraling into a manic state. He lunged toward Fred, his face inches away, his voice a vibrating roar. “I favored Samantha! I used every dirty trick in the book to manipulate Trista! I’m a piece of shit, okay?! I deserve to rot p>
He stumbled backward, a look of hollow confusion taking over his face. “But I’ve known Trista for over twenty years. Are you telling me I gave her nothing but pain p>
The memories started hitting him, and his chest tightened so hard he couldn’t catch his breath. “Since we were kids, if she so much as glanced at something, I made sure she got it. Even if I couldn’t find it then, I’d hunt it down and put it in front of her later p>
‘She wanted to go shopping? I didn’t care how exhausted I was from pack business; if she asked, I went. I was terrified of her being out there alone, unprotected p>
‘She’d make a passing comment about being stuck in the rain? I’d run through three city blocks, my shoes filled with mud, just so I could carry her home on my back p>
‘When the Silverlight Pack went under and everyone was kicking them while they were down? I didn’t have a cent to my name. My grandfather had me under total surveillance. But to keep her family’s debt from drowning them, I embezzled from the Ironthorns‘ treasury p>
To mate with her–to give her a title–I knelt in my grandfather’s study for twenty–four hours straight while he whipped me twenty times! She never knew a damn thing about that p>
‘She said she didn’t want to leave L.A. or be far from her parents? I killed my plans to move abroad instantly! I dealt with the Council’s pressure and their insults every single day! Who was I supposed to talk to about that p>
Cassian gasped for air, his eyes locked onto Fred’s. “After we bonded, did she ever have to worry about a single thing in that house? Yeah, I used ‘methods‘ on her, but I just wanted her to be obedient. I just wanted her to stay! Why does everyone have to act like I’m some kind of monster for that p>
A tear escaped his eye, his roar turning into a broken sob, “I never wanted her to lose. I swore I’d be her rock forever. I never intended to break that bond. Never p>
“I was weak for Samantha. I wavered. I committed a crime against my mate, and I should pay for it! But does that mean all the things I did for Trista just… don’t count p>
Cassian finished his rant, grabbed a glass from the table, and downed it in one go.
Every “love at first sight” is just lust. Every “long–term devotion” is just a cost–benefit analysis.
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Chapter 452
There was no such thing as real love.
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Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.